‘Royal Wedding Watch’ brings romance and pageantry to Arizona PBS

Join Arizona PBS every night this week for “Royal Wedding Watch,” a special nightly series on preparations for the wedding of Prince Harry of Wales and American Meghan Markle.

The five-part series airs Monday-Friday, May 14-18. “Royal Wedding Watch” airs at 9 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.

The week culminates in a live broadcast of the royal wedding early in the morning of Saturday, May 19. Here in Arizona, the broadcast will begin at 1 a.m., with the ceremony scheduled to begin at 4 a.m.

Produced by BBC Studios’ Topical and Live Unit and coming nightly from London, “Royal Wedding Watch” will be hosted by American news anchor Meredith Vieira and British television presenter Matt Baker, who will update viewers on the preparations for the much-anticipated wedding of Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle.

During the week prior to the ceremony, which will occur in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor, the hosts will be joined in-studio by experts, commentators and special guests. BBC presenter and host Anita Rani will report live from Windsor each night, and English historian Lucy Worsley, Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, will delve into the pageantry, pomp and protocol surrounding Harry and Meghan’s nuptials.

“Americans find the British royals incredibly fascinating, and “Royal Wedding Watch” is the ultimate backgrounder leading up to this historic moment when our American beauty marries her prince,” Meredith Vieira said.

“Royal Wedding Watch” will also showcase Britain’s rich royal heritage and illuminate how history and tradition will influence the union of this modern couple.

“From cakes to choristers, banquets to bouquets, gowns to crowns, viewers will get a fun and informative insider’s briefing on royal etiquette, an unprecedented look at the elaborate planning, secrecy and care that goes into this royal wedding that has captured the imagination of people around the world,” said Shawn Halford, PBS’ senior director of programming.

Lisa Ausden, creative director of BBC Studios’ Topical and Live Unit, added: “BBC Studios is thrilled to be working with PBS in this unique collaboration, giving U.S. viewers a front row seat in the build-up to the big day. We’ll capture all the excitement as Windsor becomes the focus of the world, and we’ll have unrivaled expertise in our central London studio to discuss the history and tradition of royal weddings, plus, of course, the romance which brought the Prince and his American bride together.”